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Glassdance
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Photo
by Will Gullette |
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1.
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Blue Nights, by
Cris Forster |
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Brian B. James, Bass
Canon |
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Heidi Forster,
Glassdance |
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Deborah Knapp, Just
Keys |
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Brandis Moylan, Bass
Marimba |
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2.
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Lullaby, by Cris
Forster |
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Heidi Forster,
Glassdance |
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Heidi Forster playing
Glassdance |
Photo by Will Gullette |
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Built: |
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1982–1983, San Diego,
California. |
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Dimensions: |
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Total number of glasses: 48. |
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Length of stand:
55 ˝ in. |
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Height of stand:
42 ˝ in. |
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Width of stand at wheels: 42.0 in. |
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Overall height of instrument: 76 ˝ in. |
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Materials: |
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Lead crystal glass, Douglas
fir, birch, teak, |
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mahogany, aluminum, brass, and
steel. |
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Range: |
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Lowest glass:
G above middle C. |
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Highest glass:
Third G above middle C. |
The Glassdance, which consists of 48 revolving tuned crystal
glasses, belongs to a relatively rare family of friction
instruments.
It was inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s ‘glass armonica’ and is by
far the most complex instrument I have built to date. In the detailed graphic,
note that the stems of the glasses are mounted through the
centers of red sprockets. A
variable speed motor coupled to a modular drive transmission
rotates the glasses. Consequently, a
performer may play two or more glasses simultaneously.
This instrument has a remarkable sensitivity to touch, and a
rich variety of tones and timbres. (See also:
Creative Aspects > Glassdance Discussion.)
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